Yes. Our First-time Buyers Loan Program makes loans to low and moderate-income individuals or families who have not owned a home before (plus owners over 55 and others who meet specific requirements--please ask about these exceptions). This loan has 0% interest and no monthly payments. However, it must be re-paid when you sell or transfer the property. It can be used for down payment, closing costs, legal fees, or repairs. The amount you are able to put into the purchase from your own funds will usually be matched by the town, up to $10,000. The minimum required from your own funds is 1.5% of the purchase price. For more details on the program, please see our application (PDF) and brochure (PDF) or

Generally, the First-time Buyers Loan Program makes loans to low and moderate-income people who have not owned real estate during the 3 years before the application is submitted. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Here’s how it works:

People in the following circumstances are also considered first-time home buyers:

Displaced homemakers, where the displaced homemaker (an adult who has not worked full-time, full-year in the labor force for a number of years but has, during such years, worked primarily without remuneration to care for the home and family), while a homemaker, owned a home with his or her partner or resided in a home owned by the partner

Single parents, where the individual owned a home with his or her partner or resided in a home owned by the partner and is a single parent (is unmarried or legally separated from a spouse and either has 1 or more children of whom the individual has custody or joint custody, or is pregnant)

Households where at least 1 household member is 55 or over

Households that owned a principal residence not permanently affixed to a permanent foundation in accordance with applicable regulations

Households that owned a property that was not in compliance with State, local or model building codes and that cannot be brought into compliance for less than the cost of constructing a permanent structure

Yes. Our Home Rehabilitation Loan Program is available to low and moderate-income people - seniors and others - who need to make repairs to their homes. Depending on the source of funds that we use to make the loan, it may be forgivable. In all cases, the loan is 0% interest, with no monthly payments, and doesn’t need to be paid back until you sell or refinance your home. Seniors may find this program especially helpful if they wish to stay in their homes but can’t afford to pay for the needed improvements. Special consideration is given for emergency needs such as a leaking roof or a non-functioning boiler (in the winter). Please see our application (PDF) and brochure (PDF) for more details on the program.

Ipswich encourages developers to include affordable units in their plans. To give you greater flexibility in meeting the inclusionary zoning requirements, you have a choice of including one or more affordable units in the project or making a payment to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

If you are the owner of a multifamily building, you may be eligible to receive a payment in exchange for a permanent affordability restriction on one or more of the apartments or condos.

If you are a developer with a Comprehensive Permit / 40B project in mind, you can expect to receive proactive collaboration from everyone in the Planning Department and affordable housing staff.

If you own a house and you’re interested in creating a rental apartment within the house and you’re willing to restrict the unit to low- or moderate-income households, you may be eligible for a subsidy to help pay for the costs of developing such an apartment. A formal Affordable Housing Restriction would be added to the deed that will ensure this use for a long period of time.

On the other hand, if you own a house with an outbuilding and you’re interested in converting the outbuilding for residential use, the town’s bylaws stipulate that you must designate that unit as affordable or pay a fee to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

All of the assistance that’s provided for affordable housing - whether it comes from the town, state or federal programs - is subject to income guidelines. See more information on the Area Median Income.

The Fiscal Year begins July 1 and runs through June 30. Real estate and personal property tax bills are due on a quarterly basis. Preliminary bills are mailed no later than June 30, and actual bills are mailed no later than December 31. Each mailing contains 2 quarterly bills. The preliminary bills consist of the 1st and 2nd quarter of the fiscal year, and are normally due on or before August 1 (1st quarter) and November 1 (2nd quarter). The actual bills consisting of the 3rd and 4th quarter, are issued once the tax rate for the fiscal year is established in December. They are mailed no later than December 31, and are normally due on or before February 1 (3rd quarter) and May 1 (4th quarter).

If you disagree with the assessed value of your real estate or personal property you may file an abatement application (PDF). Abatement applications on real estate and personal property are accepted from January 1 until February 1. Motor vehicle and boat abatements may be applied for within 3 years after the excise was due, or 1 year after the excise was paid, whichever is later. Those wishing to apply for a motor vehicle excise abatement must furnish proof of 2 items:

Disposition of the vehicle, was it sold or traded for example

Disposition of the vehicle’s plates in the form of a plate return receipt from the Registry of Motor Vehicles

The Assessor is required to value property at market value. Reassessments are mandatory every 3 years, and inspections are required at least once every 10 years in accordance with Massachusetts law, however, in order to more accurately reflect market values, interim year adjustments are made annually.

Fair market value is the price that a willing buyer and a willing seller can agree upon when neither party is under any undue pressure to complete the sale. The amount a well-informed buyer is willing to pay for a property. Qualified sales are used to determine fair market value. To represent fair market value, a sale must be an arm’s length transaction, i.e., it must be a sale in which there is no relationship between the buyer and the seller that may influence the price, such as a transaction between family members. A listing of recent sales is available on the counter at the Assessor’s office. Information may also be obtained through Banker and Tradesman’s newspaper or the Essex Registry of Deeds.

Current codes require a permit for almost all work on existing structures and for all new construction. This includes roofing, siding, insulation, demolition, wood and pellet stoves, and interior remodeling. If you're uncertain if a permit is required, please call and ask.

A homeowner may act as their own general contractor and perform work on their own property exclusive of plumbing, gasfitting or wiring. Those disciplines require duly licensed professionals. Anyone perfuming work as contractor must possess a Construction Supervisor's License (CSL). There a specialty construction supervisor licenses for contractors who install wood or pellet stoves, insulation, roofing, siding, and windows. To qualify, one must pass an exam and once licensed, take minimum hours of continuing education courses. Anyone who does home improvements on owner/occupied one to four family dwellings, must possess a Home Improvement Registration (HIC). This program provides consumers protection through a Guarantee Fund. Homeowners aggrieved by a contractor may be able to collect up to $10,000.00 from this state fund. Bylaws

A homeowner may apply for their own permit and act as a general contractor. By doing so, they would be taking on any and all responsibility for code and zoning compliance. Also, anyone who performs work on an owner occupied one-to-four-family home must possess a Home Improvement Contractor's Registration (HIC). This program has an associated Guarantee Fund.

The amount of time before a permit is issued often varies. Projects involving a great scope of work may and usually do take longer to review and issue than a permit to install a new roof surface. If all required information is included this will help expedite the review process. Permits authorizing roofing, siding, interior bath or kitchen remodeling and similar work are usually issued in less that an week after submission. Larger projects especially those that require the review of other departments can take several weeks especially if plans submitted require revisions or additional information is required causing a delay. The required permit fee must also be paid prior to issuing a permit. Though previous codes required the building official to review and grant or deny an application in writing within thirty days, the current code is not prescriptive and requires it be done in a reasonable amount of time.

To schedule a Plumbing or Gas inspection, contact the inspection "hotline" at 978-356-6605 before 8:00 AM the day of request. Inspections are performed Monday, Wednesday and Thursday starting at 9:30 AM.

Wiring inspections are conducted on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday starting at 9:30 AM. No on time inspections. To schedule an inspection contact the inspection "hotline" at 978-356-6605 ext 1 before 8:00 AM the day of request.

Beginning July 10, 2008 a child passenger restraint is required by law for children 5-7 years of age or until they reach 4 feet 9 inches in height in the state of Massachusetts. This means that for children who have grown out of their forward facing child safety seat, the next step is the booster seat.

A booster seat helps your child fit correctly in your vehicle’s safety belt. It positions the lap belt on the hips and the shoulder belt across the chest, providing the greatest amount of protection.

Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of children between the ages of 4-8. Booster seats can reduce those injury rates by 58% over seat belt use for that age group.

Its says that “no child under the age of 8 and measuring less than 57 inches shall ride as a passenger in a motor vehicle on any way unless such child is properly fastened and secured, according to the manufacturers’ instructions, by a child passenger restraint”.

The previous law only required children under 5 years of age and under 40 pounds to ride in a child safety seat.

The new law also states that children ages 8 to 12 are required to wear a safety belt when traveling in a motor vehicle.

Booster seats are generally easy to use.Read your vehicle’s owners manual and the booster seat installation manual for instructions.A certified Child Passenger Safety technician can check your child safety seat or booster seat for safety and assure proper fit. These checkpoints are free but usually require an appointment. Contact certified Child Passenger Safety technician firefighter Jeff Stone, at the Ipswich Fire Department. Or to find a technician near you call the Car Safe Line at 1-800-CAR-SAFE (1-800-227-7233) at the MA Department of Public Health or visit the Mass.gov website.

The Commission meets twice a month, normally on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday evenings, to hold public hearings related to permit applications filed under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the Ipswich Wetland Protection Bylaw, as well as enforcement matters related to violations of the Wetlands Protection Act and the Wetland Protection Bylaw. The public has a right to ask questions and comment on relevant matters. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

Only the Conservation Commission can make that determination. You can attend a Conservation Commission meeting and ask a question during the Citizen’s Query portion of the meeting. Citizen’s Queries are limited to 5 minutes per person. You can also ask the Conservation Agent, but the Agent can only give you their opinion. They cannot tell you definitively is a project is allowable. Please be aware that the Commission may offer advice during a Citizen’s Query, but they may not approve a project.

Yes, decisions can be appealed. Appeals under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act are made to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP’s) regional office in Wilmington. Appeals under the Ipswich Wetland Protection Bylaw are made to Superior Court. Appeals must be made under both, if an applicant wishes to have the Commission’s decision overturned. There are strict statutory deadlines for filing an appeal which must be adhered to, as well as requirements for who can appeal a decision.

The Conservation Commission has jurisdiction over projects proposed within 100 feet of a jurisdictional wetland (the Buffer Zone to wetlands), 150 feet of an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (the Buffer Zone to ACEC), and 200 feet of a river or perennial stream (the Riverfront Area). If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

The Conservation Agent cannot approve your project. The Conservation Agent does not have the authority to approve projects under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act or the Ipswich Wetland Protection Bylaw. Only the Conservation Commission may approve projects, as part of a formal public hearing process. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

The Conservation Agent makes a determination as to whether a proposed project is located within the jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission (See Frequently Asked Question #6). If it is located in the Commission’s jurisdiction, the agent will not sign the building permit, and directs the applicant to file either a Request for Determination of Applicability or a Notice of Intent so that the Commission may review the project for approval or denial.The agent may also mark the application as incomplete, and request additional information; or mark the project as Not Applicable, if it is not located within the Commission’s jurisdiction.

The agent generally processes building permit applications within 7 days of notification. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

The Buffer Zone is the land within 100 feet of a jurisdictional resource area. Jurisdictional resource areas include freshwater and saltwater wetlands that border a water body, such as a stream, river, pond, or the ocean; as well as tide flats, beaches, Coastal Bank and Coastal Dunes. An isolated wetland that is greater than 5,000 square feet in size is also jurisdictional, and has a 100 feet Buffer Zone. All activities that could alter the Buffer Zone must be approved by the Commission under the Wetlands Protection Act and the Wetland Protection Bylaw.

Land subject to tidal action, land subject to coastal storm flowage, and land subject to flooding are also jurisdictional resource areas, but they do not have Buffer Zones. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

The Riverfront Area is the land within 200 feet of a river or perennial stream. All activities that could alter the Riverfront Area must be approved by the Commission under the Wetlands Protection Act and the Wetland Protection Bylaw. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, or ACECs, are designated by the state. Ipswich is partially located within the Great Marsh ACEC. This ACEC is defined as elevation 10 feet (10 feet above sea level) in coastal areas, including the Ipswich River up to the Town Landing. All activities proposed within 150 feet of an ACEC must be approved by the Commission under the Wetlands Protection Act and the Wetland Protection Bylaw.

The Ipswich Wetland Protection Bylaw mandates a 50 feet No-Disturbance Zone (NDZ, areas within 50 feet of jurisdictional wetlands) and a 15 feet No-Build Zone (NBZ, areas within 65 feet of jurisdictional wetlands). For previously developed lots, such as existing single family homes built before 2001, the NDZ is grandfathered at 25 feet, within the 15 feet NBZ remaining the same (areas within 40 feet of jurisdictional wetlands). Properties where a change in use is proposed are subject to the more restrictive setbacks. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

You cannot do anything that is defined as an alteration by the Ipswich Wetland protection bylaw. This includes, but is not limited to:

Changing of preexisting drainage characteristics

Dumping (of any kind including yard debris and grass clippings), discharging or filling with any material which may degrade water quality or alter the preexisting elevation; or certain destruction of plant life

Yes, if you can prove hardship. But the Commission is not required to approve the waiver request. If the waiver request is approved, there is a requirement for mitigation of impacts at a rate of 3:2 (mitigation to impact). If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

No, as long as your project will not disturb any soil or access jurisdictional areas (see Frequently Asked Question #6) with heavy equipment. If you plan to disturb the soil, or need to use heavy equipment in the Commission’s jurisdiction, you would have to file a Request for Determination of Applicability or a Notice of Intent (See Frequently Asked Question #29). If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

Yes. You would have to file a Request for Determination of Applicability, unless the pool proposed within one of the mandatory setbacks (See Frequently Asked Questions #12-15), in which case you would need to file a Notice of Intent. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

Yes, you would have to file a Notice of Intent. You would also have to file for a permit from the Harbor Master, and the State of Massachusetts under the Chapter 91 program. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

Yes, if that shed is proposed within the jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission (See Frequently Asked Question #6). These are considered structures and must meet mandatory setbacks (Frequently Asked Questions #12-15), unless a waiver is granted by the Commission. Generally the Commission will review a shed under a Request for Determination of Applicability, as long as the mandatory setbacks are met (Frequently Asked Question #29).

Yes, if that chicken coop or dog pen is proposed within the jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission (See Frequently Asked Questions #6). These are considered structures and must meet mandatory setbacks, unless a waiver is granted by the Commission (Frequently Asked Questions #12-15). Generally the Commission will review a these structures under a Request for Determination of Applicability, as long as the mandatory setbacks are met (Frequently Asked Question #29).

If that structure is proposed within the jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission (See Frequently Asked Question #6) you must obtain approval of the Conservation Commission by filing either a Notice of Intent or a Request for Determination of Applicability (See Frequently Asked Question #29). These are considered “structures” and must meet mandatory setbacks, unless a waiver is granted by the Commission (See Frequently Asked Questions #12-15). If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

If that walkway is proposed within the jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission (See Frequently Asked Question #6) you must obtain approval of the Conservation Commission by filing either a Notice of Intent or a Request for Determination of Applicability (See Frequently Asked Question #29). These are considered “structures” and must meet mandatory setbacks, unless a waiver is granted by the Commission (See Frequently Asked Questions #12-15).

If the tree is located within the jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission (See Frequently Asked Question #6) and is clearly dead or dying and is determined by the Conservation Agent to be dangerous, the Conservation Administrator can approve its removal. If not dead or dying and dangerous, you must obtain approval of the Conservation Commission by filing either a Notice of Intent or a Request for Determination of Applicability (See Frequently Asked Question #29).

Exceptions are made if the tree cutting is conducted as part of an approved tree cutting plan, or for use as firewood for the homeowner, but certain restriction apply. Standing dead trees, especially in wetlands, should always be left in place whenever possible, as they provide vital wildlife habitat. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

If the tree branches represent a safety concern, as determined by the Conservation Administrator, she can approve moderate pruning. Vista pruning of branches and shrubs more than 50 feet from wetlands are exempt from the Wetlands Protection Act but not under the Ipswich Wetland Protection Bylaw. Contact the Conservation Agent to determine if the pruning you want to do requires filing under the local bylaw. Normal maintenance of landscaped areas and mowing of lawns is exempt from the Wetlands Protection Act and Ipswich Wetland Protection Bylaw.

You are required to have your wetland professionally delineated when submitting a Notice of Intent, unless the Commission grants a waiver of the delineation. When submitting a Request for Determination of Applicability, the Commission may require a professional delineation. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

The Commission may require a drawing showing boundaries of all inland and coastal wetlands, ponds and streams, as defined in the Wetlands By-Law. The drawing shall also contain the name(s) and contact information of all person(s) who prepared the drawing. The Commission strongly encourages and may require that all such drawings be prepared by a registered professional engineer, land surveyor, architect or landscape architect. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

It depends upon the nature of the project, and only the Commission can make that determination. Generally, if a project meets all mandatory setbacks, is not permanent by nature, does not include a permanent foundation or machine excavation, and requires no significant regrading, a Request for Determination of Applicability is acceptable. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

Yes, there are separate fees under the state law and the bylaw. Fees must be paid in full under both, for the Commission to open the public hearing. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

FEMA determines where floodplains are located. Neither the Conservation Agent nor the Conservation Commission may change the location of a floodplain. The Commission uses best available evidence, according to the regulations to determine if a home is in the floodplain. In the case of Ipswich, we use the online maps prepared by FEMA. This website is found at . Enter your address in the search box below Search by Address and follow the prompts. You can make an appointment with the Conservation Assistant or Agent, and they can help you print out a FIRMette (a FEMA floodplain map).

In addition to the FEMA maps, other credible evidence may be presented to FEMA, if you believe your property is shown in the floodplain in error. The Conservation Office may not assist in rebutting the location of the FEMA floodplain. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

The only way to know for sure is to hire a wetland scientist, and then have the wetland scientist’s determination reviewed and approved by the Conservation Commission. The Conservation Agent does not have the authority to make this determination, however, you can make an appointment for the agent to visit your property and she can give you her opinion.

In addition, you can inquire of the Conservation Assistant if there have been previous wetland filings for your property, or neighboring properties. If there was a wetland there in the past, it is most likely still there. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

If they are native plants, yes. You can also ask the Conservation Assistant for the recommended buffer zone plantings species native to eastern Massachusetts. For additional native plant ideas, visit one of the following websites about native shrubs and plant value (PDF). If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

Yes, an extension may be approved for periods of up to 3 years, but the request must be made at least 30 days prior to the expiration date, or state law will not allow its extension. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

Yes, as long as conditions have not changed, as determined by a site visit. An extension may be approved for periods of up to 3 years, but the request must be made at least 30 days prior to the expiration date, or state law will not allow its extension. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

You may not throw biodegradable items in the wetland. This is considered fill in wetlands. Filling wetlands can harm water quality and wildlife habitat, and can lead to flooding on properties downstream the fill area. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

To close out your OOC, you must file a Request for a Certificate of Compliance (COC) with the Commission. The specific requirements for what must accompany the Request for a COC are listed in your Order of Conditions, and generally include an as-built or record conditions plan prepared and stamped by an engineer showing all work completed; a letter from an engineer stating that the work was performed in accordance with the OOC, the local filing fee worksheet, and a check to the Town of Ipswich for the amount of the filing fee. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

No, the agent may not approve a Request for a Certificate of Compliance (COC). The agent will perform a site visit to ensure that the work was done in accordance with the Order of Conditions, and make a recommendation, but only the Conservation Commission may approve a Request for a COC. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

All Requests for Certificates of Compliance (COCs) must be voted on by the Conservation Commission at a regularly scheduled public meeting. In order to be heard at a meeting, the Request for a COC and all required materials must be submitted to the Conservation Office no later than 3 p.m. 1 week before the meeting. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

It depends. You must receive pre-approval of the Conservation Commission for any proposed changes. For minor project changes, you may request a Minor Modification. For more substantive changes, an amended OOC must be requested. For major changes, a new Notice of Intent may be required. For additional information go to the DEP’s website. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

These are changes that correct obvious mistakes such as citing a wrong file number or typographical errors, or minor changes to a the project that will have unchanged or less impact on the interests protected by the act. Only the Commission may determine if a proposed project change is minor. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

The issuing authority first makes a determination whether the requested change is great enough to warrant the filing of a new Notice of Intent. In making this determination, the issuing authority should consider such factors as whether the purpose of the project has changed, whether the scope of the project has increased, whether the project meets relevant performance standards, and whether the potential for adverse impacts to the protected statutory interests will be increased. Relatively minor changes which result in the same or decreased impact on the interests protected by the act are appropriate for amendments.

No. Per the DEP website, “Amending a Final Order of Conditions is at the discretion of the body that issued the Final Order of Conditions ("the issuing authority"). There is no provision in the wetland regulations that requires the issuing authority to consider or act upon a request to amend a Final Order of Conditions. There is no right to request a Superseding Order of Conditions or an Adjudicatory Hearing if a request to amend is not granted. If the issuing authority refuses to amend a Final Order of Conditions, the only opportunity for further review is the filing of a new Notice of Intent.”

You must submit a narrative description of the requested change, along with revised plans, as appropriate. This information must be submitted to the Conservation Office no later than 3 p.m. 1 week before the meeting. You must attend the Conservation Commission meeting and be prepared to discuss why this modification is required. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

You must submit a detailed narrative description of the requested change, along with revised plans, as appropriate. This information must be submitted to the Conservation Office in accordance with the regular Conservation Commission filing deadline schedule (available on our website). The Conservation Commission will publish newspaper notice (at the applicant's expense) in the same way as when you originally filed your Notice of Intent.

In addition, you must notify abutters, as if filing a new Notice of Intent. Proof of this notice must be provided to the Commission. You must attend the Conservation Commission meeting and be prepared to discuss why this amendment is required. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

Yes, if the test pits are proposed within the jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission (See Frequently Asked Question #6). Generally the Commission will review test pits under a Request for Determination of Applicability. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Department.

This can vary depending on how many Commissioners are currently on the Conservation Commission. Currently we have 7 Commissioners however only 5 of them require hard copies of plans. Effective 7/5/16, the following number of copies should be submitted.

For RDAs, NOIs, Minor Modifications, Formal Amendments:

1 Full set of application documents and plans (Hard copy of the Original)1 Full set of application documents and plans (Electronic copy of the Original, emailed to both Aliciag@ipswich-ma.gov and Gails@ipswich-ma.gov)1 Complete Copy of the Original (Hard copy Copy)5 Full sets of plans larger than 8.5x11 (Hard copy Plans only)

Note: At some point we may require additional hard copy plans when a newly appointed Commissioner starts but will let you know.

For COCs please provide:

1 Full set of application documents and plans (Hard copy of the Original)1 Full set of application documents and plans (Electronic copy of the Original, emailed to both Aliciag@ipswich-ma.gov and Gails@ipswich-ma.gov)1 Complete Copy of the Original (Hard copy Copy)* in some cases, additional plan copies may be requested at the Agent's discretion.

Household organic materials are collected by the resident in a provided cart and picked up by a special truck on Wednesday mornings. Residents pay $1 per week to participate in this program. Organics collected are composted instead of incinerated with the trash. The organics collected go to a commercial composting facility in Ipswich.

The Ipswich Recycling Advisory Committee in conjunction with the Department of Public Works Office and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection started this curbside food waste collection pilot in Fall 2011.

Organics are materials that break down naturally and can be turned into compost. Composting organics saves them from going to incinerators or landfills, where space is costly and hard to find. The town currently pays $65.14 per ton to dispose of its trash. Putting organics in landfills produces large amounts of methane, which is harmful to the environment.

Organics make up to 40% of household waste! Organics collection is one of the major strategies to further reduce our waste and our trash costs. This private pay collection pilot also provides us with valuable information to enhance our other diversion efforts (recycling and leaf composting). We track how much food waste and other organics are diverted from the trash, and we hope to build support for townwide collection.

New England Solid Waste brings organics to Agresource in Ipswich to be composted. Agresource is permitted by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to accept food waste for composting.

There is no limit on the amount of accepted materials that may be placed for collection each week. Be sure to use leaf bags for your additional organics. Remember, no leaves or branches! If you will be putting out a large amount of organics, please contact us so we can alert the hauler.

The collection trucks do not have compactors. Food waste is very dense and does not need to be compacted. Leaves tend to be light (when dry) and would quickly fill up the collection truck, increasing both the number of trips to compost facility and our costs.

The town offers leaf pickup in November each year (the third week on your regular trash day). Additionally, you can drop off your leaf and yard waste year-round at the Transfer Station on Town Farm Road. Ipswich residents with a resident sticker can use the Transfer Station during regular operating hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Yes, you may continue your backyard composting. We encourage you to also participate in the curbside program, because we accept additional items you can't compost in your backyard, such as meat, fish products, soiled paper, kitty litter and much more.

Ipswich currently diverts an average of 2 tons of organic waste per week. More participants means more organic waste diverted and lower trash costs. Brick End Farms processes about 100 tons per week and mixes in a 3:1 ratio (leaves, grass, clippings, organics).

You can pick up your compost at the Transfer Station at the end of Town Farm Road. This compost is only for participants in this program, and you are allowed to take 50 gallons (in your containers). Please do not fill up a truck bed!

The program removes more than 500 pounds of organic waste per participating household per year from the trash stream, reducing the cost to dispose of it. Ipswich pays $63.55 per ton to incinerate its trash at Wheelabrator in North Andover, so composting benefits the town both financially and environmentally.

All current opportunities for the Town of Ipswich can be found on this site. To assist with your career search we immediately remove positions that have been filled from this site. If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources.

While we would like to accommodate each interested applicant, due to the small size of the department we can only receive resumes for positions that we are currently recruiting for. We encourage you to check our site frequently as it is updated daily with newly added or filled positions. If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources.

You should complete the application and submit it via email to the Human Resource Director. You should also include a cover letter and resume. If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources.

Sending us your resume through mail or fax is discouraged. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of the many benefits of applying via email. If you don’t have access to a computer and would like to send your resume via mail, please send to:Human ResourcesAttn: Jennifer Breaker25 Green St.Ipswich, MA 01938

When you apply via email for a specific position, you will receive an email acknowledgment, and your information immediately becomes available to our Human Resources Department. Applications are reviewed after the submission cut-off date, and you will receive a status notification via email at that time. If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources.

The Planning office is located on the first floor of Town Hall, 25 Green Street, IpswichThe staff contact is Ethan Parsons, Senior Planner: ethanp@ipswich-ma.gov or 978-356-6607 ex.2Drop-ins are welcome; however, contacting the office first enables us to serve you better.

The Building Department and Planning office may have a copy of a plot plan for a property. The Assessor's parcel maps and zoning, building, and other data is available through the GIS & Mapping link on the home page.

Call yourself, or have someone else call the police to the scene. Let them know where the accident took place, if anyone is injured and how many cars are involved. If it is safe to do so, move the vehicles out of the roadway. Collect your driver's license and vehicle registration and have them available for the responding officers. Avoid arguments with the other driver about who caused the collision. The responding officers will ask you questions about the accident and the possible causes.

If your accident is one of the three types described above, yes you must complete an accident report. You may pick up a copy of this report at the front desk of the police station. You are able to download the form from this website. Three copies of the report must be completed. One copy will be returned to the police station, one copy submitted to the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and one copy may be required by your insurance company.

Go to the Ipswich District District Courthouse at 188 State Street Newburyport from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, please go directly to the courthouse and the staff there will assist you.

If the situation is an emergency and the courthouse is closed, please call the Ipswich Police Department at 978-356-4343 or 911 if you are in imminent danger. An officer will be dispatched to your location to speak with you. In some circumstances, a temporary restraining can be issued at the scene by an on-call judge.

Once you receive a restraining order, keep a copy near or with you at all times in the event the defendant attempts to contact or harm you.

If you are receiving annoying or harassing telephone calls, call the Police Department. Making such calls is against the law. An officer will speak with you and provide you with an "incident number" that your carrier will need. Call your carrier and request to speak with a representative from their Annoyance Call Bureau. Your phone carrier will give you detailed instructions on handling further calls and then will attempt to determine the origin of the calls. Once the location of the calls has been identified, the phone carrier will notify the Ipswich Police and an officer will investigate the incident. The Verizon "Unlawful Call Center" can be reached at 1-877-TRACE4U (877-872-2348).

If you think the incident is an emergency, dial 911 right away and report what you saw to the dispatcher, who will then send the appropriate response to investigate. If it is not an emergency, call the Police Department business number at 978-356-4343 and tell the dispatcher what happened. In either case, give as much information as you can, as this will help resolve the problem that much sooner.

Call the police station, ask to speak to the Shift Supervisor and explain the problem in your area. He will then have the officer assigned to that patrol area conduct radar during the problem times. Please remember that other calls for service/emergencies may take priority and an officer might not be on your street every day. You can also visit the traffic website and request a radar trailer of stealth radar unit deployment on your street.

Bring your unused and expired prescription medication to the Ipswich Town Hall located at 25 Green Street or Police Department located at 15 Elm Street. At Town Hall there is a secure Drop-Off Box located in the lower level by the Council of Aging cafeteria. Also, there is a secure Drop-Off Box located in the Police Department lobby. The Police will have the drugs destroyed in an environmentally safe manner. If you have any questions, call 978-356-4343.

Household organics are collected by the resident in a provided cart and picked up by a special truck on Wednesday mornings. Residents pay $1 per week to participate in this program and are given 50 gallons of free compost. Organics collected are composted instead of incinerated with the trash.

The Ipswich Recycling Advisory Committee in conjunction with the Department of Public Works Office and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection started this curbside food waste collection pilot in Fall 2011. The organics collected on Wednesday mornings go to a commercial composting facility in Ipswich.

Ipswich’s official Overthrow bags cost $2 per bag. Bags are sold in 5 bag pack for $10. Residents need to use these bags only when they dispose of trash in excess of 1 bag or 35-gallon barrel per week.

The Town of Ipswich encourages people to take interest in our bid opportunities and advertises by several different methods. The Town of Ipswich must give two weeks notice to any interested bidders. The Central Register is published by the Secretary of State and is a clearing house for all Town bids. The Town of Ipswich also advertises in the Ipswich Chronicle. The Town of Ipswich website is also another place to learn about bids.

The Town of Ipswich does not maintain approved bidder lists. All companies and individuals are encouraged to bid on our projects. Companies should check the Central Register website and the Town website often to learn more about bids.

The Purchasing Office is not responsible for making the decision to purchase any product, service or work. Various vendors may contact any interested Town departments. The Town of Ipswich works to ensure that individual departments are following the bidding rules when doing any purchasing using public funding.

Bidders must pay prevailing wages when doing a public construction project for the Town of Ipswich. The purchase of goods and services is not subject to prevailing wage rules. The Town of Ipswich must receive certified payroll forms from contractors who are doing public construction.

Lifelong Learners is part of Ipswich U! A group that meets biweekly on the Hip-o-campus for a rigorous DisCourse on a multitude of topics. Themes are identified, links to online enrichment sent, subscribers for viewing at their convenience, then we meet for a rigorous Discourse! Join the conversation!

These bans apply to businesses, which will be offering alternatives to plastic bags and Styrofoam. Residents are allowed to use single-use plastic bags acquired from shopping in other towns, but we encourage bringing reusable bags when shopping. More information can be found here.

No. Plastic bags (grocery, newspaper, bread, food and snack, produce, and dry cleaning bags) and plastic packaging (case, pallet, and furniture wrap; napkin, paper towel, diaper packaging wrap; and beverage case wrap) cannot be put in your curbside bin. You can recycle them in the drop-off bins at grocery stores (Shaw's, Market Basket) and other retail outlets (Target, Lowe's, Kohl's, Walmart, Staples) accept this plastic, even if you did not purchase it at their store.

Residents may put out UNLIMITED recycling of accepted items. Ipswich participates in single-stream recycling, so all recycling can be placed in 1 container and cardboard boxes no longer need to be broken down. Remember to recycle everything allowed. Recycling saves Ipswich money and is good for the environment.

In general, the requirements for smoke detectors vary depending on when the residence was constructed. For example, some residences may require battery-powered detectors, others might need interconnected hard-wired detectors only or a combination of both. Others might need interconnected hard-wired detectors with battery backup. On April 5, 2010, a significant change in the Massachusetts’ smoke detector requirements will become effective for all residences subject to MGL c. 148, s. 26F upon sale or transfer. Now, all smoke detectors installed within 20 feet of kitchens or bathrooms (containing a bathtub or shower) will be required to be photoelectric detectors. The risk of nuisance alarms from steam and cooking is lower with photoelectric only detectors. All installed smoke detectors outside of 20 feet of kitchens or bathrooms (containing a bathtub or shower) must utilize either:

A dual detector (containing both ionization and photoelectric technologies); or

Two separate detectors (one photoelectric and one ionization).

Note: In residences not subject to MGL c. 148, s. 26F (built after January 1975), the smoke detector upgrade is recommended, but is not required by law.

Since March 31, 2006, carbon monoxide alarms have been required in all residences that have either: fossil fuel burning equipment or an attached enclosed garage. This law applied to all such residences whether or not the residence is being sold or transferred.

Fossil fuel burning equipment is any device, apparatus or appliance that is designed or used to consume fuel of any kind which emits carbon monoxide as a by-product of combustion. Some examples of a fossil fuel burning equipment include:

The word “typical” is used in the following guidelines only for purposes of illustration. The actual requirements may depend on when the building permit for the residence was actually applied for and if there have been any major renovations, additions, or modifications. It is best to check with your local Fire Department for detailed guidance.

A minimum of one smoke detector must be installed for every 1,200 square feet of living space per level.

Must be hardwired and interconnected smoke detectors with battery backup.

If the smoke detector is within 20 feet of a kitchen or bathroom (containing a bathtub or shower), the smoke detector is required to be a photoelectric detector.

If the smoke detector is outside of 20 feet of a kitchen or a bathroom (containing a bathtub or shower), the smoke detector is required to be either a photoelectric detector or a dual detector (containing both ionization and photoelectric technologies).

Carbon monoxide alarms are required as follows:

On every level of the residence, including habitable portions of basements and attics and located within 10 feet of each bedroom door.

A new detector should be marked on the outside of the package to indicate if it uses ionization or photoelectric technology. For older or existing detectors you will need to remove the smoke detector and look on the backside.

The date of manufacture should be on the back; if not, the detector is most likely outdated and should be replaced to comply with the regulation. It is an ionization smoke detector if the word “AMERICIUM” is on the back.

Yes. The requirements in the new regulation only apply upon the sale or transfer of the residence. Even though the technology has changed, ionization detectors are still reliable. However, the risk of nuisance alarms from steam and cooking is higher with ionization detectors, particularly if located within 20 feet of a kitchen or bathroom.

Yes. Combination carbon monoxide (CO) and smoke detectors are permitted. They must have both a tone and simulated voice alarm to distinguish the type of emergency. Carbon monoxide detectors are required regardless of a sale or transfer. Combination ionization and CO detectors cannot be used within 20 feet of a kitchen or bathroom

The State Fire Marshal’s Office recommends that you test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors monthly and replace the batteries twice a year. Remember, when you change the clocks, change the batteries. Unless otherwise recommended by the manufacturer’s published instructions, no smoke detectors (battery operated or hard-wired smoke detectors only!) shall remain in service after 10 years from the date of manufacture.

You can obtain a copy of your tax bill when you are logged in to the online bill pay through City Hall Systems, enter your bill info then click to view a copy of the bill. Any further questions please call the Treasurer/Collector's office at 978-356-6610.

Taxes can be paid at the Town Hall Treasurer/Collectors Office, online at the Online Payments page, mailed using the envelope that came with the bill or payments can be left after hours in the drop box out front of Town Hall.

The cost of disposing of our trash in 2009 was $97 per ton in “tipping fees” to dispose of the nearly 4,000 tons of trash we generated annually. The first year of the WRP reduced the amount of trash we generated by 161 tons! Switching to bags benefits those who throw away a little while encouraging others to recycle more and offer a way for those who throw away a lot to pay their fair share.

The Waste Reduction Program reduces solid waste management costs for the town, which allows your tax dollars to be spent on roads, safety and education. It also provides an incentive to increase recycling and waste diversion, and it’s a more equitable system for sharing costs.

The program in effect since July 1, 2010 limits trash to 35 gallons per week per household. With this Waste Reduction Program, the 1st bag or barrel of trash will be collected at no charge (maximum volume 35 gallon / maximum weight 50 lbs.). Excess trash can be disposed of in specially marked bags, Ipswich’s official Waste-Reduction-Program trash bags. These bags should be placed on top or next to the 1st free barrel.

Bulky waste (mattresses, sofas, chairs) will continue to be picked-up curbside at no extra cost, limit one per week. Electronics can be recycled curbside with the purchase of a $25 sticker, obtained from JRM by calling 978-536-2500. Additionally, various electronic recycling events are held throughout the year in the town of Ipswich at a reduced fee.

The town will regularly monitor areas that have historically had dumping issues. We encourage residents to report offenders as well as engage the cooperation of their neighbors for success of the program.

Residents may put out unlimited recycling of accepted items. Ipswich participates in single-stream recycling, which means all recycling can be placed in 1 container and cardboard boxes no longer need to be broken down. Remember to recycle everything allowed. Recycling saves money and is good for the environment.

With this Waste Reduction Program, residents only pay for the excess amount of trash they generate after the first bag or barrel. Ipswich’s Waste Reduction Program provides a basic level of service to all households, allowing the first bag or barrel to be collected at no charge. Most residents (smaller families and good recyclers) will be able to fit all of their trash into the one free container allowed each week, therefore, most households will experience little or no additional cost from this program. Residents can save money if they recycle all the materials that are accepted by the town’s recycling hauler, and do this to the maximum extent possible. In a recent survey it was determined that over 60% of Ipswich households only put out 1 barrel per week!

Yes! Currently, there are over 130 municipalities in Massachusetts with either pay as you throw (PAYT) or WRP programs. In our region, neighboring communities like Hamilton, Wenham and Topsfield all have WRP programs in place.

In every municipality where WRP is proposed, some residents feel certain that they won’t like the program. However, once residents experience the program in action, they often come to support the program due to its inherent fairness and cost savings.